Naim Journey

Option 1 is a neater 2 box solution loved by many on the forum, but it has the older streaming technology. The NSX XS 2 is the latest tech from Naim and your second choice gives more flexibility should you want to change / upgrade later. I have heard neither so can’t comment on the most important aspect of your question.

HI Steve. Option 1 is a very popular solution. Staying with the 250DR you will need a power supply for the pre-amp you chose, like a HiCap, if you go to pre-amp plus streamer. Yes there is a new range of streamers coming this year which means bargains to be had on the old models as well as excellent new ones (we assume) to look forward to.

Have you spoken to your local Naim agent? See here https://www.naimaudio.com.au/retail-stores/

Praggers posted:

Any advice please on what to start off with Naim Audio. I live in country Australia and don’t have the luxury of a local dealer. 

I am considering:-

NAP 250 DR with a NAC-N-272

or NAP 250 DR - NAC 202 - ND5 XS 2

Would there be quite a difference in sound quality between the two?

thanks, Steve 

 

 

SN2 + NDX2 

Another vote for SN2 + NDX2 here ... 

Honestly you’d be mad to buy without listening especially if this is your first foray into Naim. You may well not recognise what you hear from some of the hyperbole on here (guilty m’lord myself in the past). 

Certainly I’d recommend the second option for flexibility as mentioned above. Budget for a NAPSC with the 202, that little box makes a valuable difference. 202 was my second step in the Naim ladder and I remember it fondly. 

I seem to remember coming across an Australia audio site with Naim featuring. I know you’ve a big country there but if you could hook up with someone who has a Naim system locally it would be a great assistance. 

You haven’t mentioned speakers or what you currently have?

.sjb

Steve, I would highly recommend getting in touch with the distributor, Chris Murphy.  He knows his Naim inside out and he's a top bloke too.  Have a chat. Take his advice.

In option 2, going for a 250 would result in an unbalanced system. The 282 is the ideal preamp partner, with an NDX as source. You would also need a Hicap. I can vouch for the 272/250 as a very good combination that works well, and the preamp part is better than a 202. The other good alternative, mentioned above, is the NDX/SN2. 

Thanks for all the replies everyone, you've all been v helpful.

I assume the SN2 means the Supernait 2? (sorry for my ignorance)

Also my speakers are Focal Aria 936

Cheers, Steve

Some of the bits you mention come up on Stereonet Austalia from time to time which could save you a bit and maybe let you stretch to an NDX2 with separate pre/power in the same appropriate budget.

There are dealers in Australia but it's a big country and I know buying on a punt is more common there. Some forum members (most) live in smaller densly populated countries where travelling "a long way" to a dealer means just 150 miles. Hence some of the dogmatic "try before you buy" advice. Not bad advice (very good actually), but utterly impossible for where many of us live.

FWIW you've not mentioned the speakers you intend driving.

Speakers are Focal Aria 936

Bought a NAP 250 DR with a NAC-N-272 recently and it was good, but the recent addition of an XPS DR (power supply to the 272) has improved it significantly. It's a good combination, and gets a lot of good vibes.

I have no doubt that the SN2 and NDX2 will be a fine combo, but somewhat pricey — which might not bother you... If it does, an SN2/Chord Qutest plus Allo DigiOne might be an attractive alternative. If you are less concerned about monies, you might want consider an SN2 and the recently announced Chord Hugo TT2 plus an innuos Zen — this combo intrigues me a lot, but unfortunately out of reach in my current life stage... 

Steve, what State are you in ?

ACT

Steve, Have you tries to see about a demo. at Audio Apartmento in Canberra ? Their website is a bit vague and not sure if they have a facility to demo naim gear.

Otherwise follow the advice of Richard and contact Chris Murphy, a 100% nice guy who will best advise you on a way ahead for you. Good luck.

Hi Steve, I too live in the so-called 'Bush' Capital and didn't realise we had a Naim dealer here in the ACT until another very decent Naim Dealer pointed this out to me. Hey - as a mark of higher level civilisation we can even shop for fruit flavoured electronics, fly to Singapore or the Gulf direct and shop for Swedish flat packs (yes, I know - but its good for putting my Naim equipment on until I can afford a Fraim or some such) - so nowadays this place feels quite joined up to me!

Anyhow, after the local dealer, referenced above, organised a demo for me I happily ended up with a 272/250DR combo which drives my relatively modest EPOS M12s implausibly well, all the more so following the recent 4.6 upgrade which the Dealer came round and installed for me. I won't wax lyrical about the level of service given suffice to say that it is at least at or above the level I would have expected as a Naim user of 30+ years and put to shame too many other modern commercial experiences. I have only one regret which is that I have developed a full bout of the forum condition relating to upgrades - irrational maybe, emotional definitely. 

With hindsight I personally appreciate that the 272/250 offers a high performing combo that can be upgraded and, if it suits my room, speakers and needs, the power amp can be retained and the 272 replaced with more ambitious and esoteric options. Or take the reverse course to a 300DR or both! Or I get to keep it simple and appreciate that I already have a good slice of Naim in the house.

PRAGGERS: 272+250DR or SN2+NDX2. And do lose the Arias, they are way below these combos.

I have the former and thinking about "upgrading" to the latter. Loose the grip of the 250DR but gain in the DAC and streaming departments. Tough choice.

hungryhalibut posted:

In option 2, going for a 250 would result in an unbalanced system. The 282 is the ideal preamp partner, with an NDX as source. You would also need a Hicap. I can vouch for the 272/250 as a very good combination that works well, and the preamp part is better than a 202. The other good alternative, mentioned above, is the NDX/SN2. 

Almost true but not at all about 202 vs 272 preamp quality.

As a pure preamp 202 is better, we tried at dealer's and vinyl provided a clear improvement.

Same as you used a very good separate digital source .

Not underestimating the 272 but must be considered for what it is ,which is a lot on a quality /price ratio if you like, a tailored proposal which maximizes and does best one thing i.e digital and streaming replay at  the very bottom of a classic level.

It comes as no surprise it's behind the 202 according to the official hierarchy, I definitely concur with: 

https://www.naimaudio.com/amplifiers

isn't the preamp/streamer/DAC in the 272 essentially the same as a SU. Presume 272 takes advantage of the space  for a superior layout of boards plus of course allowing the various rails to be connected to a burndy. Beyond that isn't a SU minus the power amp boards?

JedT posted:

isn't the preamp/streamer/DAC in the 272 essentially the same as a SU. Presume 272 takes advantage of the space  for a superior layout of boards plus of course allowing the various rails to be connected to a burndy. Beyond that isn't a SU minus the power amp boards?

How different the actual components are, I couldn’t say, but with the same external power amp, the 272 will certainly beat a Superuniti on sound quality. To my ears, though, the big improvement comes when you add a PSU to the 272, which you obviously can’t do with the SU. 

Thanks (again) for everyone’s replies, not convinced on the SN2 though, I’m a separate power amp believer. 

Im a patient guy so I could even just start with a 250/282 then build from there. 

H2S posted:

Hi Steve, I too live in the so-called 'Bush' Capital and didn't realise we had a Naim dealer here in the ACT until another very decent Naim Dealer pointed this out to me. Hey - as a mark of higher level civilisation we can even shop for fruit flavoured electronics, fly to Singapore or the Gulf direct and shop for Swedish flat packs (yes, I know - but its good for putting my Naim equipment on until I can afford a Fraim or some such) - so nowadays this place feels quite joined up to me!

Anyhow, after the local dealer, referenced above, organised a demo for me I happily ended up with a 272/250DR combo which drives my relatively modest EPOS M12s implausibly well, all the more so following the recent 4.6 upgrade which the Dealer came round and installed for me. I won't wax lyrical about the level of service given suffice to say that it is at least at or above the level I would have expected as a Naim user of 30+ years and put to shame too many other modern commercial experiences. I have only one regret which is that I have developed a full bout of the forum condition relating to upgrades - irrational maybe, emotional definitely. 

With hindsight I personally appreciate that the 272/250 offers a high performing combo that can be upgraded and, if it suits my room, speakers and needs, the power amp can be retained and the 272 replaced with more ambitious and esoteric options. Or take the reverse course to a 300DR or both! Or I get to keep it simple and appreciate that I already have a good slice of Naim in the house.

Thanks for your reply, I was aware of this guy, I’ll def consider his services in the future.

i used to live in Sydney and have a bit of a relationship with Len Wallis there, I always pop in there when I go up. He’s a Naim dealer - do you know once a year they have a 20% off everything in the store......

Ack Praggers, I didn't know that, thanks. I was certainly happy with the very competitive package I got from my local dealer without haggling.

Notwithstanding, if you can get 20% off a competitive base price for your preferred option on the day then thats a result too! 

Good Luck in your journey,

David

Antonio1 posted:

hungryhalibut posted:

In option 2, going for a 250 would result in an unbalanced system. The 282 is the ideal preamp partner, with an NDX as source. You would also need a Hicap. I can vouch for the 272/250 as a very good combination that works well, and the preamp part is better than a 202. The other good alternative, mentioned above, is the NDX/SN2. 

Almost true but not at all about 202 vs 272 preamp quality.

As a pure preamp 202 is better, we tried at dealer's and vinyl provided a clear improvement.

Same as you used a very good separate digital source .

Not underestimating the 272 but must be considered for what it is ,which is a lot on a quality /price ratio if you like, a tailored proposal which maximizes and does best one thing i.e digital and streaming replay at  the very bottom of a classic level.

It comes as no surprise it's behind the 202 according to the official hierarchy, I definitely concur with: 

https://www.naimaudio.com/amplifiers

I clicked on your link, but nowhere could I find an “official hierarchy”.  Please could you point me to it.

Roger

There is no ‘official hierarchy’, merely a list of products. The 272 is at the bottom simply because it is the only streaming preamp, and Naim have added it beneath the pictures of the dedicated preamps.